Shanghai/Jing'an

Jing'an (静安区 Jìng'ān Qū) is a district in downtown Shanghai. It is named after the historic Jing'an Temple, and its transport hub is the Jing'an Temple metro station. Other than a few temples and Chairman Mao's former house, there are few sights in Jing'an but if you are looking for shopping and eating or want to admire skyscrapers, then this is a prime area. Nanjing Road West runs right past the temple; the whole area is heavily developed with mainly commercial and office buildings along Nanjing Road, including a large shopping center above the metro station, and several others nearby. The side streets have a higher proportion of residential buildings, but many of those have shops or restaurants on the ground floor. Hotels on Nanjing Road are expensive but the side streets, especially north of the temple, have some in more moderate price ranges.

Walking east from the temple leads through much high-end shopping and into Huangpu District, to People's Square, more shopping on Nanjing Road East, and eventually to the Bund. Total distance is 4.5 km (a bit under 3 miles) and, at least in good weather, this is a pleasant walk with lots to see and plenty of places to stop for food or drink.

In the Shanghai administrative system, Jing'an District now includes Zhabei to the north, but we still treat them separately on Wikivoyage.

Get in
The usual way to get here is to take the line or  metro to.

To the east on line is, also in the district on the main shopping road. To the north on line are  and then. Going south, line leads into the French Concession

You could reach the area on foot by walking West along Nanjing Road from Huangpu District or North along various roads from the French Concession.

Shanghai Airport City Building (SACB) (Shanghai City Air Terminal) is in one of the malls above Jing'an Temple metro station, 1600 NanJing West. There are buses to and from both

See

 * The Jade Buddha Temple, a small temple with some remarkable statues, is often reached via Jing'an, and is sometimes described as being in this district. Actually, though it is just across the border into Putuo; see that article for a listing.
 * The Jade Buddha Temple, a small temple with some remarkable statues, is often reached via Jing'an, and is sometimes described as being in this district. Actually, though it is just across the border into Putuo; see that article for a listing.
 * The Jade Buddha Temple, a small temple with some remarkable statues, is often reached via Jing'an, and is sometimes described as being in this district. Actually, though it is just across the border into Putuo; see that article for a listing.
 * The Jade Buddha Temple, a small temple with some remarkable statues, is often reached via Jing'an, and is sometimes described as being in this district. Actually, though it is just across the border into Putuo; see that article for a listing.

Buy
The main street of this area, West Nanjing Road (Nanjing xilu), is one of Shanghai's premier shopping areas. It specializes in high-end name-brand goods, generally at somewhat higher prices than outside China. However, such goods are by no means the only thing on offer; there is a bit of everything available. The side streets and Beijing Road (the next major street North of Nanjing Road and parallel to it) are similar, but with a broader range of goods.



Alternate shopping areas with similar goods include Nanjing Road East in Huangpu District and Huahai Road in the French Concession.

Eat
The mall above the Jing'an Temple metro station has about twenty small restaurants including a good Japanese-style curry place, and a Korean place. The small street along the North side of the temple has several restaurants, mostly Chinese but including a Burger King.

There is an excellent, if somewhat pricey, Indonesian place about a block North of Nanjing Road on the side street where the westernmost exit from the Temple metro station comes out.

Drink
There is a whole strip of bars, mostly rather sleazy and well-stocked with dubious women, directly across from the Hilton on the North-South street that runs along the West side of the park by Jing'an Temple. The Hilton is a block or so beyond Yang'an elevated road. The bar on the left as you face them has an excellent Indian restaurant upstairs.

Continue South beyond the Hilton to reach the French Concession and a better class of bar. The road the Hilton is on becomes Hengshan Road a kilometer or so further South. You may not need to go that far; there are bars and restaurants scattered all along that road and on side streets off it.



Sleep
The Shanghai Hilton is two blocks South of Jing'an Temple station, on the other side of Yang'an elevated road. There are a number of decent but less expensive hotels along the side streets North of the station.

Serviced apartments
Shanghai is well provided with serviced apartments which rent by the week or month, mainly to business people whose companies are covering the cost.



Connect
The Kerry Center shopping mall has free public wifi.